The early start service

The Early Start Service in Leicester City provides support to first time parents who feel they would benefit from regular and consistent support from a public health nurse (health visitor).

Becoming a parent for the first time can be scary and daunting, so Early Start aims to help build your confidence and knowledge about health, relationships and child development. You’ll also be made aware of all of the different local services available to help you be the very best parent you can be.

Who can Early Start support?

Early Start may be able to provide you with support if you’re a first time parent under 24 weeks pregnant and fall under any of these statements:

You spent some of your childhood in care
You had a social worker when you were a child
You have a history of mental health problems, depression or anxiety
You are homeless or don’t have anywhere permanent to live when your baby is born
You are in a difficult relationship with your partner
You have a history of being involved with the police
You have a history of abuse, drugs or alcoholism in your family
You have learning difficulties
You have a learning disability
You have problems managing money
You have very little support when the baby arrives
You are not sure you want to be a parent yet
You have problems with your confidence
You are a serving, reservist or veteran of HM Forces and need additional support
You have a severe physical disability
You are a teenager needing additional support

How does if differ?

Early Start forms a part of the ‘Healthy Together’ public health programme for children and young people aged 0-19 and their families across Leicester.

The service is offered on top of the Healthy Together programme that everyone gets from their local public health nurse (health visitor) and will see you receive more home visits before and after your baby is born.

You will be visited by a specific member of the Early Start team, so you can build a relationship with your named public health nurse (health visitor). You can also choose who you want to be there in the visits with you, such as your partner, friend or family member, or you can choose to have the visit on your own.

What do the visits cover?

As well as giving you the opportunity to discuss anything about your pregnancy, the visits also help to make you aware of all the stages of pregnancy and provide you with information on parenting and relationships. You’ll also be encouraged to get involved in different groups to meet other first time parents in similar positions to you.

The small team of public health nurses (health visitors), who make up the Early Start team, aim to meet with you as early as possible, before you are 24 weeks pregnant, so they can get to know you and help you have a healthy pregnancy.

With your consent, your Early Start public health nurse (health visitor) will stay involved and in close communication with you until your child’s second birthday. You will then be supported by a local public health nurse (HV) to support you until your child goes to school.

If you are pregnant with your first baby and think this service could support you, please talk to your midwife, who can refer you, or call Leicester City’s Early Start team directly on: